SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ALBANIA

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. In the context of the Sustainable Development Agenda of 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the International Year aims to support changes in policy design, business practices and consumer behavior within a tourism that contributes to the sustainable development Goals.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Tourism is in a specific position in the contribution it gives to the development of economy: First due to the dynamism, sector growth and the great contribution which it provides in the economy and local destinations. Secondly, because tourism is an activity that involves a multidimensional relationship between consumers (visitors), industry, environment and local communities. The tourist customer travels to the producer and the product. This leads to three important unique aspects of the relationship between tourism and sustainable development: Interaction: the nature of tourism as a service industry based on providing one experience of new countries Awareness: Tourism makes people (visitors and locals) much more aware of environmental issues and differences between peoples and cultures. Addiction. Much of the forms of tourism are based on visitors' requests for experience in clean places and intact, attractive natural areas, historic tradition and cultural authenticity and hospitality from the locals with whom they have one positive report.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ALBANIA Tourism is an important subsystem of the Albanian economy, considering a key factor of regional development and economic growth. To ensure the long –term success of the tourism destination on the international tourism market, Albania has approved a new law "On Tourism" which aims to turn tourism into a priority sector of Economic Development and to develop a sustainable tourism Direct Objectives of law are: creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism and an all year tourism; increasing the number of tourists, nights stay and incomes from the sector; increasing of the quality of services; reduction of informality; promoting strategic investment in tourism;

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ALBANIA In the line with the new law NTA has built a tourism strategy on defined destinations, rather than overall marketing of Albania. This strategy suggests the following four destinations: The New South – For high and cultural heritage and beach tourism. Tirana – For convention and weekend visitors. Marina – For yacht and sailor visitors, high-end beach tourism. Albanian Alps -For nature, active and sports tourism

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ALBANIA Albania has introduced a new concept, that of tourism priority areas, which is based on the principles of integrated development. The objectives of this concept are: To support the development of tourism; To improve the current situation of territorial development in tourist areas; To create a platform on which detailed plans can be drafted for the development of tourist priority areas; To guide Local Government Units and Line Ministries in the development of their activities in areas of tourism priority; To protect and preserve natural, cultural, historical assets as well landscape. Page 6

FACTS ABOUT ALBANIA Located in the center of Southeastern Europe at major crossroads. Neighboring: Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia & Greece Surface: 28,748 km² (Belgium: 30,355 km²) Population: 2.9 million (average age ca. 34.7 years) Coastline: 316 km north-south Climate:  moderate/mild, 270-300 sunny days Int. Airport: Mother Teresa Airport, Rinas, 11 km northwest of Tirana Main Ports: Durres, Saranda, Vlora, Shengjin Road network: 3,848 km of national roads Resources: Petroleum, gas, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron, nickel, salt & timber, hydropower, solar & wind energy energy

STATISTIC ON TOURISM IN ALBANIA GDP: DIRECT CONTRIBUTION was ALL 127.7bn (USD1.0bn), 8.4% of total GDP in 2016 and is forecast to rise by 5.2% in 2017. GDP: TOTAL CONTRIBUTION was ALL 393.0bn (USD3.2bn), 26.0% of GDP in 2016, and is forecast to rise by 5.3% in 2017. EMPLOYMENT: DIRECT CONTRIBUTION was 85,500 jobs (7.7% of total employment). This is expected to rise by 3.2% in 2017. EMPLOYMENT: TOTAL CONTRIBUTION including jobs indirectly supported by the industry was 23.9% of total employment (267,000 jobs). This is expected to rise by 3.2% in 2017 VISITOR EXPORTS generated ALL219.1bn (USD1,773.8mn), 56.1% of total exports in 2016. This is forecast to grow by 5.0% in 2017 INVESTMENT in 2016 was ALL28.9bn, 7.0% of total investment (USD0.2bn). It should rise by 9.2% in 2017 Page 8

STATISTIC ON TOURISM IN ALBANIA STATES JANUARY – JULY 2016 JANUARY – JULY 2017 Annual change in % Kosovo 1.047.409 865.816 -17,3 Macedonia 311.904 341.706 9,6 Greece 232.916 245.906 5,6 Italy 116.295 182.017 56,5 England 52.250 70.626 35,2 Montenegro 185.854 194.039 4,4 Poland 34.304 58.710 71,1 United States 43.865 57.843 31,9 Germany 40.288 62.889 56,1 Switzerland 23.855 33.349 39,8 Other 376.473 510.416 35,6 In total 2.465.413 2.623.317 6,4 Page 9

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